FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Josh MacEachern, Public Information Officer
jmaceachern@rtcwashoe.com | RTC Media Phone: 775-420-1727
RTC secures $25 million federal BUILD grant for Sun Valley Boulevard improvements
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto announces funding for critical North Valleys corridor
RENO, Nev. (July 1, 2026) — The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC) has secured a $25 million grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program for the Sun Valley Boulevard Corridor Improvements Project. U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., announced the award after working with RTC to advance the project.
The investment will fund improvements along about 2.6 miles of Sun Valley Boulevard, including drainage improvements, new shared-use paths, upgraded bus stops, enhanced pedestrian crossings, ADA upgrades, signal modifications, improved signage and striping, landscaping and pavement rehabilitation.
The project will address longstanding safety concerns on Sun Valley’s busiest corridor. Between 2019 and 2023, nearly 300 crashes occurred along Sun Valley Boulevard, including four fatalities and 12 serious injury crashes. Many pedestrians and cyclists also must travel adjacent to high-speed traffic because of missing sidewalks and drainage ditches.
“This funding reflects what is possible when local priorities are matched by strong federal advocacy and close collaboration among RTC, NDOT, and our congressional delegates,” said Washoe County Commissioner Mariluz Garcia, RTC board member. “Sun Valley residents have waited decades for these long-overdue improvements. This project will do more than transform Sun Valley Boulevard — it will provide necessary infrastructure, improve quality of life, and most importantly, save lives.”
Cortez Masto previously secured $2.5 million for the project in fiscal year 2024, bringing the total federal investment in the corridor to $27.5 million.
The project also will replace an aging drainage system that has contributed to frequent flooding, helping protect the roadway and surrounding neighborhoods while improving year-round travel reliability.
The Sun Valley Boulevard Corridor Improvements Project is part of a strong partnership between RTC, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), and Washoe County. Final design is underway, with construction expected to begin in early 2028.
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About RTC: The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County, Nevada serves the citizens of Reno, Sparks and unincorporated areas of Washoe County. As the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the region, the RTC provides leadership in planning and implements quality transportation systems to meet the community’s present and future transportation needs. For more information about RTC projects visit rtcwashoe.com and sign up for email updates using MyRTC or call (775) 348-0400. Follow RTC on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County
1105 Terminal Way | Reno, NV 89502
Building a Better Community Through Quality Transportation.
